Clint Dempsey scored three goals to lead the U.S. over Cuba on Saturday in the Gold Cup quarters. Photo: Reuters

The U.S. clinched a spot in the Gold Cup semifinals on Saturday, as they cruised past Cuba at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, 6-0, behind a hat trick from Clint Dempsey. Jurgen Klinsmann's squad also added scores from Gyasi Yardes, Aron Johannsson and Omar Gonzalez.

Dempsey got the Yanks on the board in the fourth minute with a header off the cross from wing back Timothy Chandler. It was poor marking by Cuba, as Dempsey basically had an uncontested leap on the ball. But more poor defending would follow from the underdog Cubans, as they struggled to remain competitive.

Eleven minutes after Dempsey's header, Yardes accepted a pass from Fabian Johnson and simply made a right-footed flick from close range, beating the offside trap to put the U.S. up 2-0. It was routine stuff, and another example of a Cuban defense that showed a lack of focus.

The U.S. would earn a third goal in the 32nd minute, when Johannsson broke free from the Cuban defense on the right side, and lobbed a ball over goalkeeper Diovelis Guerra, who was completely out of position.

But Klinsmann's squad wasn't done. Off a corner kick, Johannsson headed the ball from near the far post, and it found its way to Gonzalez, who knocked it home from close range just before the halftime whistle.

In the second half, Dempsey would converted a penalty kick following a foul by Cuban defender Angel Horta, and then added the final score of the match with a right footed shot from the left side of the box off a cross from Michael Bradley.

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